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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Dick's Sporting Goods is certainly exemplifying the first part of their business' name by suspending the sale of modern rifles at its stores nationwide. Mr B and I haven't been back since one of their local managers decided to independently put a limit on an ammunition sale a few years ago (at least that's what we were told then).

I'm thinking a name change to Wussies (or something close to that) would better illustrate their corporate leanings.....

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Thursday, November 22, 2012

As Borepatch points out, Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday. It's been a topsy turvy year but there are people and things for which I give thanks:

Mr B: He challenges me to be better than I am and to develop skills that I never would have attempted. My friend and my true partner.

La: My conscience and my reality check. I'm blessed to have someone out there who truly knows me and likes me anyway.

Brigid: A gentle presence whose humor and company make the world a brighter place. A true light in the darkness.

Og, the Ogwife, Oglet, and Partner: It's good to know you're there. Thanks for being our friends. The world feels a bit safer with you there.

Old NFO: Truly the most interesting man in the world. Able to identify a knife at 30 paces. I really don't have words.

Listed last but not least--My family--both by blood and by choice--my family, Mr B's family, folks I see mostly in the blogosphere, which helps us to keep in touch, even virtually. I learn something everyday from all of you.

Is there anything that qualifies you for the job besides being a vegan lesbian?? Because I seem to know more about your products than you do. Your store's inventory is not extensive enough that I'm not asking things that should be outside your purview. I've just got to start sucking it up and driving to the other store--at least they try. Even Vitamin Shoppe employees are more knowledgeable and they aren't a grocery store with delusions of grandeur.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

In Oklahoma an overzealous police office wrote a woman a $2500 ticket because her three year old son urinated in their front yard. Mind that the officer didn't see the act, he saw one of the woman's sons lead the child up to a more secluded spot.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

We do not forget the lives given for our country. Keep that remembrance close and make it a light for the future. It behooves us to think about the principles for which those brave souls fought and died.

Monday, October 29, 2012

In response to Borepatch's and Sean Sorrentino's postings about the University system and their disconnect from reality. In addition to their comments, I'd like to add that the present University's way of doing business is not helping students to become full-blown adults and members of society but continues to coddle and wrap them in bubble wrap all the way out the door--thus we end up with a bunch of special snowflakes who have never been allowed to fail, to learn from mistakes, and to learn the lessons of personal responsibility.

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Saw this posted to one of my Democrat friend's Facebook page-- commented on here:

I wish my moderate Republican friends would simply be
honest. They all say they’re voting for Romney because of his economic
policies (tenuous and ill-formed as they are), and that they disagree
with him on gay rights. Fine. Then look me in the eye, speak with a
level clear voice, and say, “My taxes and take-home pay mean more than
your fundamental civil rights, the sanctity of your marriage, your right
to visit an ailing spouse in the hospital, your dignity as a citizen of
this country, your healthcare, your right to inherit, the mental
welfare and emotional well-being of your youth, and your very
personhood.”
It’s like voting for George Wallace during the Civil Rights
movements, and apologizing for his racism. You’re still complicit.
You’re still perpetuating anti-gay legislation and cultural homophobia.
You don’t get to walk away clean, because you say you “disagree” with
your candidate on these issues.--Doug Wright, Pulitzer and Tony winning writer

And here's my response:

I wish my liberal Democrat friends would simply be honest. They are one-issue voters and can't face the reality that the present administration has set this country on a crash course with disaster. They can't look me in the eye and say "My groupthink and ideas and the stifling of any opinion that does not match with ours combined with the fact that we need to take your money and give it to others for their cell phones, their $200 tennis shoes, and their EBT cards (which can now be used at fast food joints everywhere) and the steady erosion of the the First, Second, and Fourth Amendments of this country to further our political agenda mean more to us and the furtherance of our socialist agenda than your dignity, your self-determination, and your ability to live without constant government intrusion into your lives."

It's like not even understanding that George Wallace was a Democrat and not realizing the irony of bringing his name into a missive like this. You don't get to walk away clean because of your ignorance of the facts and your blindness to the reality that your candidate really doesn't agree with you on the issues you're pitching a hissy fit over in overblown and self-important Facebook posts.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

You may have noticed that the press is full of the ZOMG! ARSENIC IN RICE! news. Watching local CBS this morning, one of the talking heads actually asked an intelligent question "Why are we learning about this now?" Their 'expert' actually answered honestly--probably more honestly than she meant (and I'm paraphrasing), ... because rice has never been regulated and the FDA is thinking about it so now they're testing for it.

So one more grab on the part of the government--actually seeking out and finding a reason to regulate. Just like sending out drones looking for folks breaking EPA (over)regulations.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Since I didn't receive my copy of the Coded Racism Handbook that Michael Toure seems to think was passed out to all conservatives I have to look for these codes without any guidance. And I think I found it in an interview with Marc Morial, the head of the National Urban League (you can listen to the whole thing below). During the interview he talks about values and he talks about the 'seductive marketing' that Nike puts forth on the LeBron James shoes.

So I'm hearing that the types of people who would buy these shoes are stupid enough to do it when they could be buying a computer or school supplies or food or whatever. And it seems to intimate that parents aren't able to control the purchases for their children. Further, they are dumb enough to fall for Nike's apparently mind-bending advertisements. And so he thinks that Nike shouldn't sell the shoe (blaming the item rather than the buyer). I didn't hear anything about LeBron James pulling his name from the shoes to make them less marketable, oddly enough. Or maybe not oddly enough.

As a reminder, here's what happened with the release of Nike Air Jordans in December 2011.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Adding my thanks to those of Mr B for the comments, emails, calls, and texts the last few days. We're blessed to have such good friends and folks who are willing to reach out, tell their stories,lend their understanding, and to share words that helped to bring them some measure of peace.

Monday, August 13, 2012

Doing the right thing takes a lot of work, a lot of searching your heart, your mind, your soul, your motivations. It takes strength of will. It takes selflessness. Very often it causes your heart to break because you're not thinking of yourself, but someone else and what's best for them, not for you.

Today we're having to do the right thing for Schmoo. My heart is broken and I'm prone to tears without warning. As hard as it is for me, I think it's three times as hard for B for a lot of reasons. She was Mr B's companion for almost 15 years and mine for five of those.

She guarded the bathroom door when I showered, played 'catch-me' when I'd come home, and was a steady gentle presence and anchor to our home. But the lymphoma progressed as cancers will and she was losing her smile, which was so much a part of her. We're at peace with the decision (as much as you can be with a decision like this) and have a vet willing to come to the house. We have friends who are mourning with us.

She's been enjoying people food for the last few days (steak last night and eggs with cheese and bacon this morning), having lost all interest in either dog or cat food. One minute she's dancing like a puppy when we go for rides in the car. The next, she's tired and her back legs are shaky and she falls trying to eat while standing. In other ways, she's letting us know that she's ready to go while she's not in pain (thanks to increased pills that are increasingly losing their efficacy). If I could give 15 years of my life to cure her I would in a heartbeat. I'll remember her like she was in this picture taken by Auntie Brigid:

I love you my funny puppy! Thank you for your lessons of patience and unconditional love and the gift of strength that allowed me to think beyond myself. Wait for us at the Rainbow Bridge please....

Sunday, August 5, 2012

I know that relatively recently, Tom Selleck ripped an extra on the set of Blue Bloods a new one because of improper firearms handling.

Today, I'm watching Magnum P.I. and notice that even during a firefight, Thomas keeps his finger off of the trigger unless he's actually firing. And he's careful not to point his firearm at a non-combatant either. Funny how you become more aware of the little things and kudos to Mr. Selleck for walking his talk, even when acting, even back in the day.

Saturday, August 4, 2012

So I'm having me my Chick-fil-A breakfast this morning kind of people watching and a young man comes in. Kinda hippy-like--long hair, twitchy, backpack. So I keep him in the corner of my vision wondering if he's there to start some shit. He hangs cool, gathers his food, and then, on his way out the door, exclaims:

"Walk in the shadow of the Lord, because the light will give you sunburn."

Not exactly sure what that means, but I'm sure now that his twitchiness was in anticipation of Pontificating this sentence before the Chick-fil-A audience that he probably spent all night crafting.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Talked to someone today who was full of nothing but excuses about why a third party shouldn't bear the consequences of not doing something. Computer anomalies, vague verbiage, others not following the third party around asking questions (or wiping their precious little bottom). All the while, I'm hearing this:

Belushi's performance was meant to be, oh I dunno, ironic and absurd. Now it's almost a behavioral norm for some. The Blitz lawsuit exemplifies stupidity run rampant. Now there are 117 people out of work because some idiot throws gas into a fire and the container blows up and it's somehow not the fault of the idiot in question.

It's almost enough to make a person want to cry (or line them up and Stooge-slap the living bejeezus out of them).

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Really there is only one difference between Liberal Democrat mayors and Liberal Republican mayors:

On business:

Liberal Dems like Menino and Emmanuel: "We don't like your opinion, therefore you can't do business here." **Note: We will only discriminate against Christians because they won't go all allahu ackbar on our asses and start blowing shit up. Islamists can say and do whatever the hell they want because we're wimps and they scare us.

Liberal Republicans like Bloomberg: "You can do business here, but we are going to regulate your ingredients and serving sizes to the point where you're going to be sorry you tried to open. Also, if Occupiers use your facilities and trash them, we'll do nothing to the point where you have to close because the repair costs are too much and because none of your paying customers will come because your place has been trashed. ****Note: Of course none of this applies to muslim owned businesses because they can do and say whatever the hell they want because we're wimps and they scare us.

One thing both types of Liberal mayors can agree on is that business owners need to pay more taxes, except businesses owned by friends/campaign bundlers or those that they have to give special breaks to in order to keep them from fleeing the city and possibly the state (thus putting the extra burden on other businesses not-so-connected enough to get the special breaks).

So this morning, as I'm sleeping in, I'm awaken by the scent of bacon being wafted underneath my nose. Of course this was impetus to make my way as quickly as possible to the kitchen where my custom requested breakfast was being prepared. Two eggs over medium, corn meal pancakes, and bacon (of course).

Saturday, July 28, 2012

So Mumbles Menino in Boston and now Rahm 'the Godfather' Emmanuel are both dancing back and putting out damage control over their highly anti-First Amendment comments about not allowing Chick-Fil-A restaurants to open within the borders of their cities.

Now I've mentioned before, I do luvs me my Chick-Fil-A. I find that every store I've been in has friendly, well-spoken staff, is clean, and the food is great. The COO walks his talk (being closed on Sunday's for example) and I have no problem with that anymore than I have a problem with the local Jehovah's Witnesses coming by to drop off "the Watchtower".

I think that the mayors of both cities were informed by their respective legal teams that Chick-Fil-A could own both cities (although why they'd want them is another matter) since, in their official capacities, they are advocating blatantly illegal actions--penalizing someone for their opinion--something that liberals feel that they can get away with for some reason. So they are fancy-footing the clean-up as fast as they can. And for some reason this song came to mind....

Friday, July 6, 2012

Here in the Midwest the talking heads of the news keep touting the 'breaking of records' for heat. And then they scream about global warming. But the thing is, if we're breaking a 100 year record for heat, then it was this hot 100 years ago. So what caused the heat 100 years ago if vehicle emissions and other man-caused CO2 is responsible now??

One would think that it would make more sense to concentrate on cargo, foodstuffs coming into the 'secure' part of the airport, etc. than to snag a highly overpriced beverage from already weary and violated travelers, especially without reimbursing them for the cost of the drink (did I mention how overpriced those things are??).

One tin-foil hat idea also occurs--random DNA collection without permission since they've already established that Fourth Amendment rights are abrogated at the entrance to the airport.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

They've tried to turn this into just another barbeque and fireworks day--rendering it generic. We need to remember the fervor and dedication to the ideals of freedom that caused this country to come into being. Think about our Course of human events. Think about our government and how they are no longer governing with the consent of the people, no matter their protestations to the contrary. Americans are unique in the world and the fires of freedom, individuality, and self-determination still exist.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

The wails and howls of those without electrical power have reached my ears. We too were without power for several hours (not days), but because of proper preparation, it was merely an adventure and a chance to go to bed early.

After the storm passed Thursday night, I figured it was safe to dive into the shower. Alas, I had washed my hair and had just soaped up my face when the lights went off. Before 30 seconds had passed, in comes Mr B with a flashlight and a smile. I had to hurry to use the remaining pressure in the well tank to finish rinsing, but no biggie.

We read by the light of our flashlight/lanterns and retired to bed about a half hour earlier than usual. There was a bit of a debate as to whether or not to open up the windows since it was cooler outside, but considering the high humidity, we decided to leave things as-is. We also considered starting up the generator, and if the power had been out the next morning, we would have.

Point being, because we were ready for an outage (cars gassed up, generator tested and ready, flashlights with fresh batteries (and extras ready as well), it was kind of fun to be unplugged for the evening. And it's really not all that hard to have those things done and on-hand.

I also had my flashlight at the ready at work when the power went out the next day there. I also had water, snacks, and first aid supplies and extra batteries in my desk drawer, should they have been necessary.

Small things that can make a BIG difference between a situation being an adventure or misery.

Monday, June 25, 2012

It's truly interesting to watch the spin the press puts on it. Their meme du jour is that because Congress passed it, it must be Constitutional (also Nancy Pelosi's argument, coincidentally). Hopefully the balance of powers (even the Founding Fathers didn't think that all laws passed by Congress would be Constitutional) will make this abomination right. But then the Founding Fathers never dreamed that those holding the public trust would game the system so completely either and would no longer be trustworthy.

I would think that a couple of thousand years after the original Olympics and more than 100 years of the modern Olympics that the sporty-type Olympics is pretty well known and I don't think that the Ravelympics and its participants would constitute unfair competition to the athletes heading to London.

Fortunately social media came to the rescue and from the scathing comments left on the USOC's Facebook page the USOC is trying (unsuccessfully) to walk back its comments with the usual backhanded and arrogant pseudo-apology. Just like with the Komen foundation and its 'For The Cure' brouhaha, this branding thing is going too far and is taking the joy out of a whole bunch of activities. When the branding becomes more important than the activity then whoever is leading these groups have completely lost the plot.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

.... or this just reeks. One public school employee union in Michigan is strong-arming its members to hand over credit card and bank account information to force dues out of them since the state is no longer acting as the enforcement arm of the union. To me, this just says that the unions are losing members when dues payments are voluntary, which says something about the unions--and it's nothing good. The head of the union is also claiming that the turning over of this private information is a "requirement for continued employment in the school district". I'm of the mind that the union is mis-stating or is overreaching by saying that since private information is, well, private. It's the Obamacare way of thinking--we'll force a private person to pay for something they don't want to have.

The house of cards is not only falling, it's catching on fire as it goes.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

So the Chicago Police department is eating the cost of providing 100+ officers for security for Valerie Jarrett's daughter's wedding. And the citizens of the Chicago are eating quite a bit of lead--46 injured and eight dead. The murder rate is up by 35% year over year in the Windy City. And the city of Chicago is wanting to pay citizens $100 (in a gift card) for each (illegal) gun turned in this coming weekend.

Monday, June 18, 2012

Standing at the train station waiting for my folks to emerge from their respective bathrooms, I was approached by a young man who said "Excuse me miss, may I borrow your cell phone?" I looked at him and said "Yes I mind, and I'm sorry, but no you may not borrow it." I thought I was being pretty polite considering... But the miscreant in question took umbrage at the fact that someone would actually say no and decided to give me attitude. I just stared at him until he walked away.

But why on earth would I 1.) hand my cell phone to a complete stranger; and 2.) allow a complete stranger to use an object that I have purely for my personal use and convenience (and which I pay/paid a hairy fortune for each month)? He wasn't on fire, giving birth, or bleeding copiously and it was a frickin' train station, complete with pay phones.

Sunday, June 17, 2012

In this case my voyage of discovery was literal. My sister and her new husband rented a tall ship for a both a cruise and B&B. Unfortunately, while in the galley chatting after the cruise, I found that boats and my stomach do not agree. It didn't help when my sister set out the guacamole, hummus, and other foods loaded with garlic and onion in front of me and I was told this morning that the place I'd chosen to ride out the rainstorm was probably the worst one on the boat for someone battling seasickness. Texting Mr. B for advice, I tried everything I could but the weather was not good for going up on deck--staring at the glass of water helped a bit, but I'm sure I was a bilious shade of green.

Luckily my sister took pity on me and drove me back to her place in the middle of a thunderstorm in the middle of the night. Some ginger capsules provided by a friend and some dramamine found under the counter and some sleep and I was set to rights this morning.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

The Mighty and Indomitable Og has a post up about MTV. Tom Petty's Runnin' Down a Dream was one of my favorite videos although I think someone was smoking some pretty serious doobage when creating it. Guess that's what made it so fun to watch. Please to enjoy a trip to the past....

Friday, June 8, 2012

Well, I finally did it. I called my high school English teacher and thanked her for staying after school with me, for introducing me to poets such as Dorothy Parker, and for helping me to understand Fahrenheit 451, which I had read before it was required for her class, but then actually had to analyze the next time around.

It was funny though, when I called she said "You're calling because you heard Bradbury died, aren't you?" I admitted that was indeed the impetus for the call. She laughed as I finished my outpouring of thanks and said "I wish I had a tape recorder so I could play this over and over."

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Mr. B called me at work yesterday to tell me that Ray Bradbury died on Tuesday. Bradbury's work had a profound effect on my life. I've written before about Fahrenheit 451--I think it should be required reading in any advanced curriculum. I just bought another copy of The Illustrated Man, which may have led to my love of tattoos, although none of mine move and the only story they tell is my own. I remember the attempt to bring The Martian Chronicles to the big screen but Bradbury's work is so internal that trying to match his vision with anything concrete will not work.

Bradbury's vision of Montag's world in Fahrenheit 451 in some ways was prescient, but I hope his darker vision does not come to pass. In the meantime, I'll remain attached to my paper and ink as my preferred reading mode.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Is there a particular reason why it's appropriate that our tax dollars are further being wasted through the creation and airing of commercials for ObamaCare (being paid for by healthcare.gov)?? I've been seeing quite a few of them on our airwaves-only channels (presumably targeting those who either cannot or choose to not pay for cable)....

Friday, June 1, 2012

Congrats to my friend--she took a chance, sent an email and was rewarded with Dharma Brew from the Lafayette Brewing Company. She is a volunteer at Wolf Park and folks from the park frequent the Brew Pub after Saturday evening Howls (well worth checking out if you are ever in around West Lafayette, Indiana). So she emailed the Pub owners and suggested a new limited beer and they agreed. Not only that, they will be donating money from each sale to the park. It's a win-win, she says--not only a cool idea coming to fruition but the beer is wicked tasty too.

From the Brewery:

We've got some fantastic seasonals due for release this month. Dharma, brewed in celebration of Wolf Park's 40th Anniversary, is a dark ale was brewed with pale, toasted, caramunich, crystal and de-husked roasted malts to create a full-bodied dark ale. A very modest dose of Nugget and Chinook hops add a touch of bitterness to balance the malt. The resulting ale is rich and malty with hints of nuts, toffeee and chocolate. 8.1% ABV 25 IBU. LBC will donate $.50 from the sale of every glass of Dharma to Wolf Park. Learn more about Wolf Park at: www.wolfpark.org

1) Obama was really into pot in high school (aka choom in Hawaii). To the point of thanking the 'Choom Gang' in his high school yearbook. To developing new and novel ways of smoking dope, such as in a car with the windows up to maximize buzz.

2) Obama was given a Nobel Peace Prize for doing absolutely nothing (and actually becoming one of the more war-mongering presidents, regardless of the international law he seeks to give sovereignty here in the US). So after seeing one of the premier and (previously) most prestigious awards in the world come to naught, he has no real frame of reference.

Speaking of war-mongering, does anyone NOT think that he's kept Syria on hold, policy-wise, until just before the election in order to get a ratings-bounce??

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Via Drudge: While giving the commencement address at the University of Virginia, Katie Couric whined "...You'll wonder, when will I be loved?" Now to my thinking, as one of the great unwashed, you have to be lovable in order to be loved. Ms. Couric has done absolutely nothing to garner a following (including referring to Americans living in the Heartland as the great unwashed). She seems to me to be an elitist snob who has pandered to the eliterati and has ignored the rest of us. You don't become 'America's Sweetheart' by referring to a trip to Chicago as 'touring the middle of the country' (maybe if she'd actually gone downstate or something, I dunno). Her distaste and disregard for the majority of Americans shines through everytime she tries to get 'in touch with the people'. So, if I were she, I wouldn't be holding my breath while waiting to be loved.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

"NO life is lived in vain that was loved by a dog. No human ever had a more noble calling than to care for his four legged friend."

And he's so right.....

Thanks to everyone who has written, called, or texted with good wishes and understanding of what we're going through right now. We're enjoying the time we have, spoiling her with treats, and doing what we should all do--treating every day as if it was our last.

The cats all seem to know that something is up and have been particularly loving also--to her and to us. Anyone who doesn't think that these pure creatures have a soul, is sorely lacking one themselves.

Monday, May 14, 2012

Something occurred to me today. College degrees are the modern day equivalent of Patents of Nobility. Sometimes they indicate quality, sometimes you might as well have hired a naked guy to write them up for you...... But either one is either trumped or enhanced by experience, knowledge, a will to learn, and heart.

Monday, May 7, 2012

Just gives me a feeling of pride that a man such as Col. West is on our side. He knows his history and his look of incredulity was epic (the look that should be given to all stupid/disingenuous/leading questions). Thought it was interesting that the CAIR shill started going on the 'you've attacked Islam' schtick not very far into his being schooled (some might say pwned) by Col. West. Too good to not share...

Via Old NFO, who I am also glad is on our side and who I am glad to know.....

The defense counselor for Walid ben Attash, a POS who was involved in the bombing of the US Cole and was Bin Laden's 'errand boy' and was also one of the trainers of the 9/11 hijackers, appeared in court dressed in hijab and was insisting that the court ORDER the other women in the courtroom to do likewise.

I think this crazy woman forgets that she lives in the United States, where people can, to the best of my knowledge, choose for themselves what they are going to wear in the morning. For myself, it'd be Ally McBeal short skirts, garters, and the highest heels I could walk in after something like that. There is no way that I would dignify such a ludicrous request with anything other than an incredulous stare. For a probable liberal, why WHY would someone acquiesce to a mode of dress that is designed to 'keep women in their place'.

Friday, May 4, 2012

So Elizabeth Warren, based on a family legend, checked that 'Native American' box in professional directories and was touted by Harvard as part of their diversity structure in their law school. I'm not a lawyer, I wasn't trained as one, but even I know there's this little thing called 'proof'. In my family, there was also the legend of a dark-skinned great-great grandmother who would take her youngest child across the prairie to visit the 'tribe' for the summer. And I believed it and re-told it. I even went to Native American Pow-Wow's in search of documentation.

That side of the family doesn't live far from tribal lands in the Kansas/Oklahoma area and has been here so long that I could have a small constellation of stars (at least Cassiopeia) at the Daughters of the American Revolution. So it's not inconceivable that at some point, they would have intermarried with the Native Americans in their area. I don't know how to judge cheekbones, but they tend to the high side with those folks too.

But the big issue with the family legend, it was bushwah. One of my uncles, who had considerable resources, tried to prove the family legend and couldn't. There may have been a dark skinned great-great grandmother and she may have called herself Cherokee (that whole self-identification thing that Boston genealogists are trying to use to cover Warren's butt), but she might have been Greek or Jewish or Mexican or Hindu or African, for all we know--there are a lot of darker-skinned possibilities out there. But you know, as convinced I was of our heritage and the truth of the family legend, I didn't check that box because I didn't have proof. It would have made things simpler, could have opened some doors, but without a piece of paper showing tribal membership, it wasn't going to happen.

Warren claims that she just wanted to make friends and she believed the stories because of her grandfather's "high cheekbones". Reaaaaallllly..... She has just proven that she's willing to exploit the status of a special class in order to get money, preferential treatment, and other perks that come with it (gee, maybe she is a natural for Congress).

I just think she's sad and pathetic and should go back to her teaching job and get out of politics.

Monday, April 30, 2012

I'm not the only one, but I moved the loan that I had with Bank of America to a local operation. I put a little note in there saying why, not that I really think that they will care. Their treatment of the McMillan Group in addition to other business practices, such as providing credit cards to illegals that can then be used to enter the other systems of the US (like proof of residency for drivers licenses, etc.) just was the last straw.

I had planned on moving my account after the initial period but have to admit to being a little lazy and needing a kick in the butt to get moving on it.

Monday, April 16, 2012

The MSM is concentrating on the SNAFU committed by the Secret Service in Colombia. While it is pretty serious, is most of their 'concern' based on the fact that the Secret Service is clearly showing that their professionalism is slipping, or is it to cover up Obama's comment (tongue in cheek or not but definitely in bad taste considering this interview) that one of the reasons he's in Columbia is to scout potential vacation spots for MEchelle (via Gateway Pundit)?

.... that the only time the MSM gleefully mentions ANY state in 'flyover country', it's because that state has had tornadoes destroying portions of towns and cities. The reporting is almost done with a bit of schaudenfreude (take that you Bitter Clingers).

I haven't been to Vegas since the Mirage was built, if that gives you any idea of the timeframe. I don't gamble much (I think that Himself and I together spent less than $100 in the machines, and that was only for time-killing).

I now know that:

the Strip from the Mandalay Bay to the Stratosphere is five miles each way (and walked the whole thing up and back);

that there are parts of the Strip that are sitting empty due to stalled construction projects;

that high winds will cancel the fountain show at the Bellagio;

that if you look hard, you can find decent, REALLY good food at a reasonable price (highly recommend the Bootleggers Bistro for both the food and the Vegas history);

that sushi is readily available and if you go at an off-time, SushiSamba serves up a quick, delicious meal;

that Fox Rent-a-Car sucks, big-time. Nice enough folks but couldn't find their own cars in the parking lot to save their lives;

that Himself looks totally hot in a suit (okay, I knew that) and is willing to give up his jacket to me when the temperature dips to forty degrees at night;

that a spa day at the Canyon Ranch Spa is pretty darn good (and I managed to shave some $$ off the price and was still a happy camper).

As a note to the FCC or whomever cares, I paid for the food and services linked, and would again.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Not only did Brigid take great care of the hairball-horking menagerie, she washed the sheets and remade her bed, AND stacked the mail in order of importance for us to find. As a plus, Cocoa Pebbles treats were left in the fridge and a smiley note was on the table.

Thanks also to Engineering Johnson for the airport/car help as well! Made the transition part much smoother!

It was my first vacation EVAH and her presence at the house made it the most relaxing one anyone could ask for.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Well, it took the spectre of legal action, but Spike Lee has apologized to the McClains for re-tweeting their address (twice against twitter rules). He's also reimbursed them for the trouble that he caused them since they've been living at a hotel and has (finally) tweeted that he had the wrong address and for his followers to back off.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Spike "Do the Right Thing" (except if it doesn't meet your meme) Lee, tweeted the purported address of George Zimmerman in Sanford Florida, in order to facilitate the mob/lynching action that seems to be en vogue with certain portions of the population just now.

However, the address sent over the Twitter feed twice by Mr. Lee, isn't Zimmerman's address, it's the address of a couple in their 70's who were quietly living their lives until Lee decided to help circumvent the wheels of justice. Mr. Lee picked this incorrect address up from a man from Los Angeles, Marcus Davonne Higgins.

Like many other things associated with the Zimmerman/Martin case, people should be checking their facts and waiting for facts to come out before springing into action.

Of course that doesn't help David and Elaine McClain, who are huddled in their house waiting for the misguided and misdirected mob to come destroy their house and possibly their lives, all because some guy in Los Angeles tweeted an incorrect address and overreacting celebrities decide to follow along.

So the President of the United States said, on a hot microphone in front of a whole room of reporters, the following:

President Obama: On all these issues, but particularly missile defense, this, this can be solved but it’s important for him to give me space.
President Medvedev: Yeah, I understand. I understand your message about space. Space for you…
President Obama: This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility.
President Medvedev: I understand. I will transmit this information to Vladimir.

He's now backing off his comments like a sheep cornered on the side of a cliff by a randy Scotsman.

However, after throwing Poland under the bus already on missile defense, I don't think there can be much misunderstanding as to what he said when he thought he couldn't be heard. And I don't think I'm wrong in that the Defense Secrets Act of 1911 is still in force today. As Himself points out, his negotiations on our national security and defense are explicitly geared towards his re-election, not towards the good of the country.

The President has weighed in on the Treyvon Martin issue in Florida. The press is trying to say that the leader of this country is right to comment on a local police matter. Just like he commented on the brouhaha in Cambridge that led to the "Beer Summit" because he spoke only from what he has seen in the press--just because he's President, it doesn't mean that he has more insight or more information than the rest of us do.

It's purely a matter for the local gendarme to handle. If it looks like they're not handling it properly then the county or the state steps in. It's not a federal case, no matter how many people, who were also not there and don't know any more about the situation that I do, don hooded sweatshirts, scream to the skies, and call for blood.

And no, the President should not venture an opinion on a local situation like this. All he does is add fuel to what is looking like is going to end up as a lynching for George Zimmerman since he's already being crucified and presumed guilty in the court of public opinion (which is not/should not be a stand-in for our legal system). The President has forgotten that ALL people, regardless of their skin pigmentation (or lack thereof), are innocent UNLESS they are PROVEN guilty and in lieu of hard data, should keep his mouth shut.

Friday, March 23, 2012

So we have Lysistrata Redeux, but instead of a cause like ending the Peloponnesian War., it's in the cause of making other people pay for their birth control regardless of the third party's religious beliefs regarding contraception, abortion, or other practices. I'm sure these women see themselves as this:

Where I see them this:

They are truly tools of the patriarchy if they've fallen for the administration's propaganda on this subject. There are going to be a bunch of sexually frustrated metrosexuals out there, but who will know or really care.....

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Of all of the bills sent to Daniels' desk this session, the ONLY one he didn't sign was SEA1 (as of 8:21 pm on the 20th), which would have restored both Indianan's 4th Amendment rights as well as Indiana Constitution Section 11 rights. It is truly amazing that this is the only one he didn't sign. But maybe not so amazing considering it was HIS appointee that orchestrated the taking away of this right in the first place. For a guy who purports to be conservative, not a good move.

He was all about a statewide smoking ban (except for casinos and such--any law containing exemptions is a bad law to start), but against citizens being able to legally defend their homes against UNLAWFUL entry into their homes. Unbe-frickin-lievable.

ETA: apparently in Indiana, passivity works so that if the governor does not sign a bill, it becomes a law automatically. That way Mitchy-boy can have his cake and eat it too. Still, not taking a stand is still telling, I think.

Mitch Daniels is on the fence about signing enrolled SB #1 which was designed by Sen. Charbonneau to restore our Fourth Amendments rights and mitigate the effects of an Indiana Supreme Court decision last year. Give the Gov a call and let him know he should sign this Bill into Law. His office number is: 317-232-4567.

I know the moron that tried to take away our rights is a friend and appointee of Daniels, but his mistake needs to be corrected. Now. It arrived on his desk last Friday and he's got a week to decide. The people need to tell him to decide on the rights of citizens to defend themselves from ANYONE who is breaking the law.

The press is making a very big deal about how Republican voters in Alabama and Mississippi (they are sure to emphasize the 'Republican' part, but since they are the only ones being included in the polls, duh) feel that Obama is a muslim.

What the press and the academic intelligencia fail to realize, and what I'm probably going to try to explain very badly, is that of course folks in the Southern states (and I'm including a boat-ton of Dems) believe that Obama is a muslim. Why?? Because he was raised one in Indonesia. He went to a madrassa, he attended prayers five times a day. That was how he was raised--the culture, the religion. That's where he spent his formative years. Regardless of how many years he sat in Rev. Wright's hate-spewing pews subsequently, his childhood was spent as a muslim.

And to southern folks, that's what counts. But this is something that the progressives fail to grok (and if you don't grok grok, I can't help you) and so they use this idea as a weapon to try to illustrate how 'backwards' those who are from the south are. For example: my formative years were spent in the south. We attended the local Southern Baptist church. I was in the choir. That is part of who I am, regardless of how I have celebrated religiously since then.

When I moved back south after quite a sojourn in the northern states, one of the first things I was asked was "what church do you attend?" Now, such a question would be considered rude up north, but in the south, that is one way that people place you in their worldview. It's not that they care, really. But to them, knowing that bit of information gives them an idea as to your worldview, your beliefs, how you were raised. It is an insight as to WHO YOU ARE and your attitudes towards the world.

So I guess what chaps my butt, and is the impetus for this post, is that the progressives well-nigh demand 'cultural sensitivity' towards a religion and belief system that stones Emos to death, that shrouds their women in ignorance, both literally and figuratively, that destroys millennial-old works of art, but can't somehow try to understand the point of view of others in their own country.

I'm firmly of the belief that when the Founding Fathers specified that the President be a natural born citizen of the United States, that they meant that they wanted someone who was born and raised here--someone who understands the culture because this is the culture that they bonded with, that they were raised with, that they absorbed in their formative years because they were a part of this society (colonies established within this country would not qualify as being part of our society).

It would be more interesting to see the results of a poll that specified WHY folks are holding to the idea that Obama is a muslim. I'm betting the results would be because he was raised as one in another country. It is part of who he is and how he sees the world. So I don't think, in context, that the people who answer 'yes' when asked if they believe Obama is a muslim are far wrong. But don't expect the progressives to actually use some of their vaunted cultural sensitivity to understand that reasoning. It's too easy to denigrate people that they are relatively sure won't cut of their heads or stone them to death.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Old NFO has a blogpost about the blues. Proving that anything can be made into a blues song, I present "The Babysitting Blues" from the movie 'Adventures in Babysitting'. It features the incomparable Albert Collins, so please to enjoy....

Saturday, March 10, 2012

You all may not know this, but it is International Bagpipe Day today. So in honor of the day two videos with my favorite bagpipe player, Andy Letcher (from whom word of this day made it across the Pond as well). Please note that Andy plays the English Border pipes, not Scottish (Great Highland Bagpipes) (I think he also plays French pipes). It was explained to me that Scottish pipes, being so much larger, are meant for marching and English and French pipes are meant for dancing. For more than you ever thought you'd need to know about the different types of bagpipes, check here.

Music from one of my favorite Scottish bands--Albannach:

I should mention that the sound of bagpipes completely messes with BobtheCat's serenity. He was one unhappy camper while I was searching for videos for this post. Or maybe he was so moved by it that he felt the need to try to knock the computer off of my lap. Who knows the ways of felines.....

Friday, March 9, 2012

Jesse Jackson Jr. is apparently running on a 'pro-gun control' platform against Debbie Halvorson. What's interesting is the ad specifically states that President Obama and Jesse Jackson Jr. fought 'every step of the way' to stop the NRA and pro-Second Amendment/anti-gun control (.17 in the ad below) moves in Congress.

In light of Fast and Furious and the fact that Obama has really been trying to work under the radar on this issue, I wonder if this ad was vetted through the White House. Only watch if you don't mind your blood pressure going up....

Thursday, March 8, 2012

On the TSA blog there is a lame attempt to denigrate and minimize Jonathan Corbett's finding that the backscatter machines are basically just big boondoggles. The blogpost even refuses to name him, calling him 'some guy' and then launches into a paragraph that doesn't address the issue and a second paragraph that basically goes into a blah blah blah about how this is only one of eleventy-million ways the TSA claims to be making travel safer.

I know it's the TSA's blog and, as such, represents the mental level of most TSA screeners, but seriously, do they really think that anyone would fall for their fifth grade level crap?? They might as well have just posted that his mom dresses him funny....

ETA: Via Advice Goddess: Apparently the TSA is aware that their juvenile tactics will be ineffective, so they are contacting the media and are 'strongly cautioning' them not to cover Corbett's story. I still have my checkbook ready for his defense fund because you all know as well as I do what their next move will be.

Apparently redheads are not as susceptible to the pain caused by capsaisin and are a lot more susceptible to cold. I don't know if I'd describe myself as a redhead, but I do have some strawberry blonde going on sometimes.

Himself cooks to the edge of his pain threshold which generally leaves me at the "mmmm... tasty" mark, but isn't what I would call hot or spicy, and he's no lighweight when it comes to peppery foods. At Thai places I have to convince them to ignore the caucasian complexion and almost beg them to take it to the five star level. I've ordered hot sauce that is 800,000 scoville units and use habanero and ghost pepper powder in my eggs in the morning (as well as in my fudge recipe).

All this time I figured my love of hot food (and my tolerance for it) was because my formative years were spent eating tabasco-laden foods (so laden because my dad was a heavy smoker and couldn't taste a thing), but maybe the root cause is actually, well, my roots.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

So Jonathan Corbett has proven that the TSA backscatter machines, aside from potentially causing cancer and radiation exposure, don't make us any safer than the original metal detectors did and definitely no safer than being sexually assaulted so that you can travel from one part of this country to the other. On his website here (and the video embedded below), which youtube is now making restricted to 18+ (don't know why), he explains the whole thing.

My question is this: when are the sheep going to realize that the sheepdogs are toothless and more interested in controlling the traveling populace than they are in protecting the traveling populace?? We've already lost so many freedoms under the guise of security that I'm sure Ben Franklin has spun his way to the center of the earth by now. This is not counting the billions of dollars being funneled to political insiders under the cloak of national security.

I know that the TSA, in its efforts to justify its existence, will come down on Mr. Corbett like a ton of bricks under the same national security aegis. So I've got my checkbook ready for his legal defense fund.

Friday, March 2, 2012

I'm still in shock over Andrew Breitbart's untimely death. Never met the man but the world, I think, is a smaller, darker place with his passing. Himself made the comment though, and I have to agree...

Small comfort but maybe all of us can take up his torch and keep the light shining on the dark places of our government and media, just like Andrew did.

There's a big difference between cultural understanding and cultural stupidity (which is now labeled cultural sensitivity).

One of the hardest things for me, as a Western woman, to learn when dealing with Middle Eastern folks is that the younger folks have to approach the older folks, rather than wait to be acknowledged, as things are done here.

You would think that Obama, being raised in Indonesia, would have an almost instinctive understanding of the subtle ways that cultures differ regarding honor and respect towards others. For example, in Japan, the head honcho never EVER apologizes--it's always an underling who can afford to 'lose face' (the Japanese had the sense of honor to edit pictures of Obama bowing to his toes to their leader so as not to embarrass him). In the Middle East, there is a quick word regarding a problem and then it is as if it never was. But if you make a big deal about something by constantly apologizing and bringing it up, then it's going to become a bigger deal on the other side also--you feed the fire.

When a person is in a position of power, that person NEVER bows to another either by word or by deed. And you never compound a now-perceived weakness or the acknowledgement of an error by constantly apologizing, as the administration has done.

So first, the head honcho apologizes, then the next head honcho (Secretary of Defense) apologizes, then you send out myriad underlings to apologize to people not even remotely associated with the incident and then act surprised when the situation grows out of control and disingenuously say that 'it's not my fault.'.

Now I'm just a simple girl in flyover country and I know this stuff. It's frightening that those that should either don't or are deliberately ignoring social and cultural norms and in the process are getting our people killed.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Andrew Breitbart helped to bring down ACORN, started the Bigs, which gave outlets for conservative commentary on Journalism, Government, Peace, and Hollywood, and wasn't afraid to stand up to Media driven Leftists. His light was too soon put out. I don't often cry over the loss of people I've never met, but his fire, drive, and presence will be missed.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

A guy at worked was playing this music this morning and I thought it was too cool not to share. Apparently these guys travel the globe and find street performers and put them together on video and with sound.

So in Afghanistan, NATO personnel burn some Korans because they were being used to pass clandestine messages back and forth between various terrorists. And someone finds the charred remains. And our "President Bows-a-Lot" throws our military under the bus again (our people are 'defending' themselves with rubber bullets and the Pentagon is going to make everyone go through sensitivity training). But Afghani SOLDIERS are murdering our people over there. I have only one thing to say to the Afghan people:

The lot of you misogynistic-stuck-in-the-8th-century freakazoids can blow yourselves to hell and gone--leave us out of it and stop blaming us for trying to bring you into the 21st century.

Friday, February 24, 2012

Listening to the news this morning, the talking heads were talking about a multi-vehicle crash on the Edens Expressway (whichever highway that it since it's Chicago code). But the verbiage they used was interesting: "the icy conditions caused the crash". It wasn't that "dude was a moron and was driving too fast for conditions" or "the woman over-corrected when she slid and caused the crash". It's like the conditions just materialized under the car much to the surprise of all drivers in the area.

But the passive meme is pervasive. Any life event just happens. All are victims of circumstance. It's the idea on which the Dems have based the last fifty years of policy--people are poor because they're victims, not because of the decisions they've made. Just last week, the federal government removed the last FEMA trailer out of New Orleans--almost six years after the storm because people just waited for someone else to do something--they did not do for themselves. We're all just chips on the stream of life, according to the Progressives.

It goes against everything the United States was built on--personal responsibility; pursuing life, liberty, and happiness. Controlling our own destiny, whatever that might be. I refuse to accept that I am a victim or that I am not in control of at least the portions of my life that I can be--how I spend my money, where I live, my associates and my friends.

My choices are my own and are mine to pay for in whatever currency--money, sweat, tears, that is required.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

So what is it about this election cycle where one's opponents are demons?? One Jesse Jackson Jr. supporter said that Debbie Halvorson's campaign “has been prepared by Satanic forces.” and in a prayer said:

“We stand together, united behind this congressman, who stands in the forefront, battling political demonic forces that would keep us from receiving that which you have ordained for us to have,”.

He was quick to say later that Halvorson herself was not a "political demonic force" (seriously, he said that).

"I saw pictures of Boehner and Cantor on our screens. Don't ever let me see, again in life, those Republicans in our hall, on our screens, talking about anything."

"These are demons," she screamed.

Now I'm not an expert on demonology, and I haven't squirted any of the folks in question with holy water to see if they start smoking, but it seems to me that when a demon-meme starts making the rounds, maybe some action needs to be taken--like getting them on holy ground or getting them in a demon-trap a la the television show 'Supernatural' just to make sure.

On the other hand, I'm pretty sure the Constitution does not exclude demonic beings from holding office (how else to explain the last fifty years of federal government?) so aside from a banishing ritual, I'm not seeing any way to get them out of there (hmmm... maybe not a bad idea--it'd be interesting to see if it would work). But it would be fun to see who actually gets sent back to the Pit (kind of like seeing who gets swept up in the Rapture 'cause I kind of bet some folks might be surprised to see where they end up).

All snark aside (and believe me I could take this schtick and run all day with it), what kind of reflection is it on the people spouting such nonsense? In Waters' case, this is an elected official, presumably educated, who is screeching that Republicans are demons. Ministers are praying for divine intervention and protection for their chosen messiahs without so much as a fish-eye from the folks for whom the prayers are said. Cultural differences aside, does this count as civil discourse? I don't think so......

I guess we have no choice but to all get pictures of Pat Sajak in order to fight off the demons......

Saturday, February 18, 2012

The free ice cream hasn't been served this week due to a plethora of life-events. Just want to give kudos points to my brother who stepped up out of the blue, took care of some stuff that needed to be done, picked people up in the middle of the night to get them home and blew off my thanks as 'it's what family does.' But what he did kept my head from popping clear off of my shoulders like that scene from "Scanners".

Monday, February 13, 2012

The latest iteration of Obama's paranoia are called Truth Teams. Seriously, let's just call them what they are--lying propagandists. The only way he can stand on his record is to lie about it or blame it on someone else. One of these teams has actually stated that they are out to intimidate voters.

As long as they're black, they won't have to worry about the DoJ taking action to prosecute them.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

And because the glow of candles at a vigil for two people shot in Maryland did not deflect bullets, someone walked up and shot a person at "point blank range", which amazingly was non-fatal so one wonders how "point blank" it was. via Say Uncle.

So in much-ballyhoo'ed news, the White House said that contraception and sterilization procedures wouldn't have to be 'explicitly' paid for by Catholic hospitals and universities, but would be offered by insurance companies directly to female employees of those institutions. But who would be paying the insurance companies?? Because sure as anything, they wouldn't be eating the cost of this "free" service to women. I'm still not understanding why people are still saying it's free, either. TANSTAAFL. And this was, as with most things coming out of the White House, a 'compromise' that wasn't. I'm glad the Bishops didn't fall for it.

Himself and I ventured out Friday night in the budding snowstorm for BACON since we had a visiting dignitary this weekend. While at the butcher's shop, all of a sudden the lights went out. Immediately two people behind the counter and three in front of it (Himself, myself, and one other) brought out our flashlights or cell phones with lights. The lady behind the counter who had just started to cut our lunch meat laughed and said--"I can still give it to you if you want a big chunk!" The manager brought out the hand calculator and they prepared to go credit card free. No worries, some laughter.

The power came back quickly, but was really only necessary for the folks who didn't have enough backup cash for their purchases and I'd bet two out of three will not be caught cash-free again.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

....Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. Another 28 states are now applying for waivers from the piece of crap legislation that IS actually Bush's fault. At what point do you stop writing waivers and repeal the legislation altogether since it's proving to be an unworkable money sink??

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

John Nolte over at Big Journalism beats me to something that's been niggling at my brain for the last little while--free birth control. In the fight for the First Amendment, which is the most important part of the Obamacare birth control mandate, something has not been brought into the forefront.

The fact that not only is the Obamacare mandate making private entites pay for insurance that includes birth control, sterilization, etc., they are having to pay full freight--no co-pays for these prescriptions or procedures.

Every other prescription, procedure, or test has a co-pay in today's insurance world. No other prescriptions are being mandated as co-pay free, not even the ones deemed to prevent death. Why is this particular set of medicines and procedures being set up differently?? Probably because Obama's feminist cadre has proven that they can control the narrative on this issue and even bring down one of their own using nothing but social media and misinformation.

I dunno and maybe I'm missing the point or the feminists are going to come take my woman-membership card and change the secret handshake, but I have ALWAYS taken responsibility for my own pills and prescriptions. If my insurance didn't cover them (or if I didn't have insurance) then I went on Ramen noodles to save the money for that monthly purchase (or went without). If my physician was associated with a Catholic hospital and couldn't prescribe my pills, I went to a different doctor.

There is no RIGHT to birth control. There is no RIGHT to having birth control being paid for by other people. I prefer the route of personal responsibility. I don't think that women's reproduction is more important than heart medication or asthma medication or insulin for diabetics. If one has to co-pay, then they all should have to. If your company's insurance doesn't pay for items, there are still private alternatives or just suck it up and pay full freight.

So I try to slide in for a quick breakfast sandwich this morning and promptly get busted by a friend who spotted me on my alternate route to facilitate my Chick-fil-A stop.

Phone Call: "Why are you coming up YYY street this morning?"
Me: Because I'm trying to sneak into Chick-fil-A for breakfast... *sigh*

In any case, I get to work with my sausage, egg, and cheese biscuit and find a Valentine's surprise. The biscuit (which is the best biscuit I've had this side of the Mason-Dixon), is shaped like a heart. It was so cute, I had to take a picture. It is a great day at Chick-fil-A!

BTW: to the FCC. My sandwich and hash rounds (also a Coke). Bought and paid for by me.

Okay, so some bint without a first name who seems to think that she's all that AND a slice of bread, decides to break with the rehearsals that were done all week for the Super Bowl and make a STATEMENT which included flipping off the viewers and cursing. NBC is falling all over themselves blaming the NFL for hiring the twit, the NFL is blaming NBC for not editing it out fast enough, and the FCC is salivating over the money that they'll be able to bring in fining whoever for this stunt.

In a reasonable world, shouldn't the bint in question be the one blamed and fined, since she's the one who decided to break script??

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Via Borepatch, I followed a link to this douchebag's website. For a guy who professes love and courage and humility, he doesn't seem to show a lot of those qualities. As BP says, this guy is obviously intellectually frivolous, using Hitchens' definition.

Nor does he seem to understand or acknowledge that maybe "Akmed's dad or Mohammed's dad" might have been the ones who machined-gunned schools for allowing girls to attend or who beat a woman for the audacity of being raped or who destroyed an ancient piece of artwork in the name of their religion. He does not understand or acknowledge that our troops are people with families also and have the courage and conviction to lay it all on the line, not mock and dehumanize our soldiers from behind a keyboard. He also seems to be one of those who feels that being brown is better (I personally don't care about skin tone or the lack thereof) and being an adherent of an 8th century religious practice automatically grants you immunity from your abhorrent actions.

I think he would have been one of those spitting at the troops coming back from Vietnam, except I doubt he was spawned then. He's one of those who hates and twists something good, like a sleeping baby, into something ugly.

I have to admit that I'm not Catholic and I do think that the Catholic Church has been hoist on its own petard on this issue (as has also been pointed out here). Because the Catholic Church was one of the big supporters of Obamacare, I imagine they were more than a bit surprised to find out that the Obama Administration didn't create an exemption just for them in the administration's push for birth control and sterilization services (I consider the 'exemption' put into the rules to be unworkable in today's world). And I can try to imagine the look on the bishops' faces when they realized that the Catholic Church would be forced to PAY for those services as well. Welcome to the Law of Unintended Consequences.

But still and all, there are several larger issues that are at play here and ones that are getting lost in the whole healthcare/health insurance debate. The main one is the obvious attempted destruction of the First Amendment. If the government can force a group to pay for something that is inimical to its stated beliefs, then what's next?? If the government can prohibit free speech due a stated reason of 'sedition towards the Commander-in-Chief' then what's next??

Friday, February 3, 2012

This is a poem sent from a Marine To his Dad. For those who take the time to read it, you'll see a letter from him to his dad at the bottom. It makes you truly thankful for not only the Marines, but ALL of our troops.

We all came together,
Both young and old
To fight for our freedom,
To stand and be bold.

In the midst of all evil,
We stand our ground,
And we protect our country
From all terror around..

Peace and not war,
Is what some people say.
But I'll give my life,
So you can live the American way.

I give you the right
To talk of your peace.
To stand in your groups,
And protest in our streets.

But still I fight on,
I don't bitch, I don't whine.
I'm just one of the people
Who is doing your time.

I'm harder than nails,
Stronger than any machine.
I'm the immortal soldier,
I'm a U..S. MARINE!

So stand in my shoes,
And leave from your home.
Fight for the people who hate you,
With the protests they've shown.
Fight for the stranger,
Fight for the young.
So they all may have,
The greatest freedom you've won.

Fight for the sick,
Fight for the poor.
Fight for the cripple,
Who lives next door.

But when your time comes,
Do what I've done.
For if you stand up for freedom,
You'll stand when the fight's done
By: Corporal Aaron M. Gilbert , US Marine Corps USS SAIPAN, PERSIAN GULF

And here's the letter...

Hey Dad,
Do me a favor and label this 'The Marine' and send it to everybody on your email list. Even leave this letter in it. I want this rolling all over the US and Canada and The World. I want every home reading it. Every eye seeing it. And every heart to feel it. So can you please send this for me? I would but my email time isn't that long and I don't have much time anyway.
You know what Dad? I wondered what it would be like to truly understand what JFK said in his inaugural speech.'When the time comes to lay down my life for my country, I do not cower from this responsibility.I welcome it.' Well, now I know. And I do.. Dad, I welcome the opportunity to do what I do. Even though I have left behind a beautiful wife, and I will miss the birth of our first born child, I would do it 70 times over to fight for the place that God has made for my home. I love you all and I miss you very much. I wish I could be there when Sandi has our baby, but tell her that I love her, and Lord willing, I will be coming home soon.Give Mom a great big hug from me and give one to yourself too.AaronPlease let this marine (and all our military) know we care by passing his poem onto your friends even if you don't usually take time to forward mail...do it this time!
Thanks,